Valve tapping?

[Mud Thrasher]

On my new wag the I am hearing a tapping sound from the drivers side valve cover. What would cause this and what do I need to do to fix it? It's an 88 wag btw.
tia

[ January 23, 2003, 08:43 PM: Message edited by: Mud Thrasher ]

[Zac]

It could be the rockers or pushrods to check take off the vavle cover and see if you can wiggle any of the parts. Mine is also making a tapping noise it started after I replaced the heads. It could also be valves tapping. These are just suggestions they are probably wrong. Zac

[Mud Thrasher]

I figured that I would have to pull the cover to find out. I'm getting a compression tester to see how my motor is. If it test good and I find top end damage then I think that I will opt for a top end rebuild. What do ya'll think bout rebuilding just the top end and not the whole motor if it's not needed. After I test the cylinders I will post my findings and ask ya'll what yall think.

[Desert Beast]

i had that same noise and i replaced my pushrods and rocker arms and it still makes the noise. i bleieve its a lifter. w/ a top end re-build do they replace the lifters. if so then that would be the ticket. but if not then...

[Dan G]

The question re: just a top end rebuild or not cannot be answered until the motors mileage is known.

If you have anywhere near 150,000 miles, don't just do a top end rebuild. You'll expect to get more power and better performance and you'll just end up stressing older parts. Would you put a 25 year old horse and a 3 yr old horse together to pull a wagon? Only if you want it to go in circles...

You MIGHT regret doing just a top-end rebuild. Chances are you likely won't regret a full rebuild (providing you or your shop is experienced).

[joe]

I agree with Dan. Just doing the top end on a high miles motor has a tendency to blow out the oil rings. Do the compression test(dry and wet) then get back to us with the results and miles on the motor.

[Da Big Blue]

In my dads Chevy 4x4 he got the same thing. he put some ATF in with his oil and it stopped.
Does ATF work for everything?

[Mud Thrasher]

Ok so if I did the engine rebuild then what would ya'll recommend on doing. I had read that to not worry about getting forged pistons. To just get the cast ones. A new oil pump and lifters,rockers,cam,pistons,rings,valves. Anything else? Oh yeah and a timing chain and gears. Have it bored .030 over and clean out the valley. I'm hoping that I can get a machinist friend to do all the machine work for me.

[Mud Thrasher]

Ok so if I did the engine rebuild then what would ya'll recommend on doing. I had read that to not worry about getting forged pistons. To just get the cast ones. A new oil pump and lifters,rockers,cam,pistons,rings,valves. Anything else? Oh yeah and a timing chain and gears. Have it bored .030 over and clean out the valley. I'm hoping that I can get a machinist friend to do all the machine work for me.

[Da Big Blue]

Is there an echo in here? ;)

[Michael]

Mine did the same thing prior to the actual fix. What is happening is the lifters are now concave, and are not holding oil pressure. The noise is the valves because there is nothing to dampen the blow from the cam lift. The lifter has probably colapsed and is not doing its job. So the fix is lifters and camshaft. At least the lifters, but I would recommend lifters cam and timing chain. I did mine and now it is as quite as a purring kitten. Good luck.

[gbarrett]

Mine did that - it had worn lifters. The one making the noise was about 1/8" shorter than the others.

[Rande]

If the noise gets louder as you accelerate, its an exhaust manifold gasket leak. This sound mimics the sound of a tapping lifter. The difference is: the exhuast leak will get louder as you punch the gas. Check this first.

[Mud Thrasher]

It's definately coming from the valve cover. Is wiggling the parts the way to check it or is there another way? For right now the cam and lifters is the more economical thing to do. That and I don't think I want to get into a complete rebuild right now. I like the idea of getting another motor and rebuilding it as I can. Taking my time and doing it right.